U.S. court strikes down Michigan affirmative action ban

miller-mccune.com

November 15, 2012 | AP A federal appeals court has thrown out Michigan's voterapproved ban on affirmative action in college admissionsand public hiring.

The court says the 2006 amendment to the MichiganConstitution is illegal because it presents an extraordinaryburden to opponents who would have to mount their ownlong, expensive campaign to protect affirmative action.

The Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati saidThursday that the burden undermines a federal right that allcitizens "have equal access to the tools of political change."

Michigan voters amended the constitution to ban theconsideration of race in college admissions and governmenthiring. It forced the University of Michigan and other publicschools to change policies.